Electric switch.



, nu. 634,057. Patented oct. 3,AA |899.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH.'

(Applicdiay Med Ich. 4, 1898. Renewed Feb. 27, 1899.)

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UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ELY, OF PRQ'VIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.`

ELECTRIC VswiToH.

lsrneninon'rron forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 634,057, dated october e, 1899.

` Application filed February 4, 1898. Renewed February-x 27, 1899. Serial'No. 707,092. (No model.)

and in other forms it has proven possible to similarly retard or suspend themovement of the connecting parts during the operation of breaking the circuit. The effect of such retardation orsuspension of the movement of the connecting parts ot' the switch is to prevent the requisite sudden connection or separation of the connecting parts and the contact-sections of the switch, thereby causing -an uneven distribution of the current, rendering the parts of the switch liable to be fused or burned out, and increasing the danger not only of fire, but also to life.

The purpose of myinvention is to provide an electric switch in which the action of the switch mechanism shall be positive,.sudden, and automatic both in making and in breaking the circuit and when once initiated shall 'be beyond the control of the operator and in which the primary actuating means shall be isolated from the current-carrying parts of the switch.

My invention consists in the novel con struction and arrangement of the mechanism hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a top plan of my switch as applied in connection with contact-plates. Fig.

2 is a vertical section on Vline 2 2 of Fig. 1.l

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. el is a side elevatiouof my switch as appliedv to a knife-switchl7 Similar reference letters and numerals indicate like parts wherel they ccur in the drawings.

Upon the base A, constructed in the usual way of insulating material, are secured, preferably in line with each other, the rotatable shaft 4, mounted in said base and extending in both directions beyond thesame, and a stationary post or stud 5, likewise projecting Vbeyond the faces of said base. Upon one end lot' said shaft I secure an arm G,and upon the 'corresponding end ofthe post 5 I secure another arm T andpivotally connect the ends of said two arms by the insulating-links 8 and 9. Said arms are provided with extensions at each end, by which the contact is effected with the contact-posts 10, 11, l2, and 13, se-v cured to said .base in the usual manner; Upon j the opposite end of said rotatable shaft 4 l rigidly secure a second arm 14, and also loosely pivot an arm 16, provided with a geared portion 16 and projecting lugs, ears, or thickcned portion 17, adapted to engage with said arm 14 to actuate the shaft- 4. Upon the op posite end of the post or stud 5 is pivoted an actua-ting lever or handle 20 and also a segment-gear 21, arranged to releasably mesh with the geared port-ion of the arm l5. Said arm `15v and gear 2l are connected by means of the extensible spring 22. Said segmentgear 2l is provided with thickened portions or lugs 23, adapted to be engaged by said lever or handle 20 to rotate said gear.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Referring to Fig. l, in Which the switch is represented as closed-gie. the circuit madeit will be observed that the gear 2l is out of mesh with the geared portion of the arm 15,

While the lever 20 rests at one side of the switch-box B. lf the lever 2O be now forced over toward the opposite side of the box, it will rotate the gear 21 and cause it to mesh with the part 1U of the arm l5. Continuing, the movement of the lever 20 will cause the arm 15 to rotate and distend the spring 22 until it reaches the dead-center line. Up to this point the arms 6 and 7 and their connections have not started and the current is uninterrupted; but the spring 22 is under its extreme tension. A slight further movement of the lever 20 carries the spring by its deadcenterline, and it atlonce'reacts to throw the arm 15 with force against the arm 1d and out of mesh with the gear 2l. The first effect of the described action is to cause the arm 15 to strike the arm 14 apowerful blow, and there-y IOO -taneous increase of the speed of the movement initiated as described, completing the movement, and breaking with the requisite suddenness the connection between said arms and contact-points, and throwing and holding the gear and arm 15 out of mesh with each other, thereby isolating the gear and the handle 2O from the current-carrying parts of the switch. To make lthe circuit, the described movements are reversed.

The handle or lever 2O and the gear 2l are, as shown, pivoted independently of each other, and the `gear will, under the influence of the spring 22, have a certain amount of movement without reference to the movement of the lever, thus insuring its complete isolation from the current-carrying part-s of the switch while the latter are in either their open or closed position, and also removing said parts absolutely from the control of the lever when once the spring has begun to operate to aetuate them either to open or close the circuit.

I claim as .my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In an electric switch the combination ofthe contact-posts and the contact members, the gear-segment lever loosely connected with the contact members, the engaging arm in positive connection with the contact members and adapted to permit the required backlash movement between the gear-segment lever and the engaging arm, the hand-operated lever, the actuating gear-segment lever loosely connected with said hand-operated lever with the required degree of backlash, and the spring connecting the ends of the gear-segment levers whereby upon the initial movement of the hand-operated lever the teeth of the gear-segment levers will be brought into engagement and the spring will be distended Without causing the movement of the contact members, until at the passage of said spring beyond the dead-center line the action of said spring will cause the required sudden movement of the contact membersand the'disengagement of the teeth of the gear-segment 1evers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two Witnesses, this 2d day of February, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, (1898.)

VILLIAM ELY.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY MARSH, Jr., ROBERT L. WARD. 

